TIME SERIES ANALYSIS OF NEWSPAPER EDITORIALS OVER PUBLIC WORKS FROM 1950S

Abstract

The need of public works has been increasing in modern Japan. However, in late years there are negative public opinions and media coverage for public works. In fact, the expenditure of public works has been largely reduced from the 2000s. On the other hand, public works seemed to be conducted positively for the period of the high economic growth. It is important to know what public opinions and media coverage were at that time because public works could be influenced by public opinions and media coverage. In this study, the target is highly reliable newspapers, especially editorials. As a result, the tone gradually changed to critical things after the war. Particularly, it was suggested that editorials in the 2000s have been in extremely negative tone.